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Man imprisoned for nearly 20 years for death of 3 firefighters still awaiting new trial

PITTSBURGH — Almost 21 years to the day of a fire that killed three firefighters, Greg Brown is still waiting for his day in court.

Brown was convicted of starting an East Hills fire in 1995 that killed the firefighters, but Jason Hazlewood, Brown’s attorney, said there’s one problem.

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"We have an innocent man who's been sitting in jail for nearly 20 years without ever having received a fair trial that the Constitution guarantees him, and no one seems to be worried about it,” Hazlewood said.

In February 2014, a judge threw out Brown’s conviction after it was revealed that two of the prosecution’s witnesses were paid for their testimony. Since then, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office has filed several appeals to stop a new trial.

Meanwhile, Brown remains in prison with no new trial date in sight.

"Now, we have this period where the government is acting as though this man's life doesn't matter,” Brown’s second attorney, Dave Fawcett, said.

Brown’s attorneys filed a petition with the Supreme Court to get the case moving, saying, in part, “It’s the only way to prevent injustice that makes a mockery of Pennsylvania’s judicial system and the right to a fair and speedy trial.”

The District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case.

"They've shown they'll spare no lengths to delay this as long as possible. At some point, if someone has a moment of conscious and decides Greg is entitled to a fair trial, then we'll be having that conversation,” Hazlewood said.

It’s unclear when the Supreme Court will rule on the petition.

Brown’s attorneys told Channel 11 News that they’re hopeful but not confident that a new trial will be scheduled at some point this year.

WPXI

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